Ex-presidents of Georgia invited to inauguration

The ex-president of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze and outgoing president, Mikheil Saakashvili are invited to the new presidents inauguration ceremony.

According to the foreign minister of Georgia Maia Panjikidze, the inauguration will be held on November 17, in the courtyard of the old parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi.

"Our aim is not to spend too much money for the inauguration of the new president. There will be military and cultural events, including the national flag raising and performing the national anthem. said Maia Panjikidze, after the discussion by the special committee for the new presidents swearing-in ceremony.

Its not known if Mikheil Saakashvili plans to be present at the inauguration. But last week the chief of the presidents administration, Andro Barnovi said that outgoing president shouldnt offer his hand to the president-elect Giorgi Margvelashvili.

"Is it logical to shake hand with the presidential candidate of new president, who neglects everything, which you have done? I suppose he will not attend the presidents swearing-in ceremony, but he will state about is himself. said Andro Barnovi.

The press-center of the ex-president Shevardnadze stated that last nine years he wasnt invited to the president Saakashvilis inauguration. Eduard Shevardnadze will attend presidents swearing-in ceremony if the health allows him, according to the press-center.

A former Soviet minister of foreign affairs, first secretary of the Georgian Communist Party, and ex-president of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze was overthrown in November of 2003 during the Rose Revolution by the opposition leaders Mikheil Saakashvili, Zurab Zhvania and Nino Burdjanadze.